Randy Rodriguez, Nissan America

When car companies develop a new model, hundreds of designers compete for the sketch-to-reality crownand breakout success is rarer than a '62 Ferrari GTO. But fresh-faced Randy Rodriguez entered a Nissan contest and clinched that uncommon victory with his reimagining of the Z. His take makes its debut this spring, just in time for his 32nd birthday. Ian Daly

Q: I've heard of designers' being inspired by Aston Martin or Porschebut Datsun?

A: My first car was an '80 380Z, then I had a '77 280Z. All my girlfriends thought I loved the car more than them. In design school they said, "Why are you always drawing Datsuns?"

Q: What sets Japanese car styling apart from European design?

A: I think it's a little more techno. You know, they're into anime, robots, and Gundamand the cars reflect that. They're really aggressive.

Q: So how did you translate that to the new Z?

A: I'm attracted to things that are powerful. All the Zs were good race cars. I imagined them more flared outso I added flares and giant wheel forms. I took inspiration from jets and Shark Week.